Pictorialism and Straight Photography
Alfred Stieglitz, “Night Reflections”, 1897
The Pictorialism Movement in photography was a movement in which photography was first introduced as an art form, rather than a documentarian device. Photos taken during this movement resembled thoseof modern paintings, using similar techniques and capturing similar beauty. Additionally, the photos would be modified or edited in a variety of ways to further create an artistic effect on the photograph. Following this movement was the straight or pure photography movement which, along with the Pictorialist Movement, became the foundation for modern photography.
The Straight Photography Movement succeeded the Pictorialism Movement, creating the idea that photographs could be used to create and capture real-world experiences. Whilst Pictorialist Photography and Straight Photography had different methods, they both shared a common goal: creating a personal, artful experience for the viewer. Pictorialism achieved this through modification, however, Straight Photography captured profound moments in time through the use of framing, composition and subject matter.
Alfred Stieglitz, “The Steerage”, 1907
This movement was popular among photographers because it highlighted the camera’s physical capabilities and limitations. It honoured the device, creating the ability to capture pure emotion in a photograph. Instead of creating an experience through editing, Straight Photography gave the photographer’s eye and planning to shine through the image. This form of photography required strategic planning which aimed to accurately capture a moment in time. Furthermore, Straight Photography allows the audience to discuss the contextual background and create commentary topics based on the photograph. A common example of this is Alfred Stieglitz’s “The Steerage” (1907) which captured a boat in New York City, framing the bustling crowds as well as the wealth gap between the city’s citizens. Stieglitz gave the audience an unaltered photograph that captured New York City’s life accurately as well as aesthetically. This allows viewers to assign meaning to an image and create a thoughtful, meaningful, artful connection to a photograph, creating a personal experience.
Comparing Famous Photographers
Aaron Siskind, 1949
I think both Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind have been influenced by the Straight Photography Movement because their photographs are unaltered and unedited, capturing beauty in everyday, ordinary objects. Whilst Straight Photography is mainly about capturing a moment in time, Weston and Siskind still use principles and elements from the movement in order to capture beauty in simplicity.
Uta Barth, 2000
Two contemporary artists, Andreas Gursky and Uta Barth, create abstract photographs through the use of mood. Both their photographs are typically of ordinary scenes but perhaps edited to highlight the colour or pattern in the moment. In Gursky’s work, there is a highlight on simplicity and ordinary occasions. They do not have the beauty of modern paintings (as seen in the Pictorialist movement) and capture many little details occurring at the same time. I would say Gursky is more of a Straight photographer as he captures daily occasions to show the contrast in emotion. Additionally, Barth also captures simplicity in moments, I think her work is very intimate. Whereas Gursky has quite noisy photos, Barth has very quiet, lonely photographs, following the idea of Pictorialism which is the beauty of modern paintings.
Sources
Lavigne, David. “The Rise of Straight Photography: Alfred Stieglitz.” Scalar, 27 April 2021, https://scalar.chapman.edu/scalar/ah-331-history-of-photography-spring-2021-compendium/dylan-lavigne-assignment-3. Accessed September 13 2023.
Seiferle, Rebecca. “Pictorialism Movement Overview and Analysis.” The Art Story, 25 July 2018, https://www.theartstory.org/movement/pictorialism/. Accessed September 13 2023.
Seiferle, Rebecca. “Straight Photography Movement Overview and Analysis.” The Art Story, 30 October 2017, https://www.theartstory.org/movement/straight-photography/. Accessed September 13.